Harrogate Borough Council

The planning system plays an important role by helping to protect our towns, villages and countryside.  It also has a key role in enabling the provision of homes and jobs in a way that is consistent with the principles of sustainable development.  Planning must  be positive in promoting development and protective towards the environment and amenity.  The Harrogate District Local Plan was prepared to help strike this balance and enable consistent, predictable and prompt decision making. This Local Plan is to be superseded by the Local Development Framework which will be more flexible and responsive to change.

 

Development Control represents the "sharp end" of the planning system making decisions on individual planning applications about whether to allow a wide range of housing, business and leisure developments to go ahead.  This is especially so in Harrogate District where the Borough Council has to make complex planning decisions in accordance with its Local Plan and other material considerations.  It has to balance amenity and the conservation of an outstanding landscape and historic setting with a high demand for new development.  In making its decisions the Borough Council has to engage with a very active community interest in the District about all planning issues, large and small.  

A guide entitled " Creating better places to live: a guide to the Planning system in England" published by the Department for Communities and Local Government will help you find out more about planning and how you can make where you live a better place both now and in the future. It will help you find out what planning has got to do with you, your family, your friends and your community.